Magnificent Mile – Chicago

Want to visit Chicago for a baseball vacation?  Teach your spouse about the Magnificent Mile and you’ll be half way there.  The Magnificent Mile is the portion of Michigan Avenue that runs from the Chicago River to Oak Street.  Its shopping is second to none.

This week is White Sox Week with our podcast featuring the Chicago White Sox being released on Friday, June 4, 2010.  Ed, Farley and Mark will be reviewing the Magnificent Mile!

Discovering Chicago with Vinnie Rapponi

Flash Mob of 20,000 on Michigan Avenue!!!

Memorial Day 2010 – Remembering Eddie Grant

Edward Leslie Grant (May 21, 1883 – October 5, 1918) was one of three (3)  Major League Baseball players killed during the Great War.  Grant played third base for the Cleveland Naps (1905), Philadelphia Phillies (1907 – 1910), Cincinnati Reds (1911 – 1913) and the New York Giants (1913 – 1915).  Grant usually batted lead off.

Grant’s nickname was “Harvard Eddie.”  Grant graduated from Harvard in 1905 and practiced law after his baseball retirement.

This Patriot was one of the first men to enlist when the United States entered World War I in April 1917. Grant served as Captain of the 77th Infantry Division.

During the battle of Meuse-Argonne Offensive, all of Grant’s superiors were killed or wounded.  Grant took command of his troops on a four day search for the “Lost Battalion.”  During the search, an exploding shell killed Grant on October 5, 1918.  This Patriot is buried at the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in Lorraine, France.

This Patriot died at the age of 35.  ”Harvard Eddie’s”  ultimate sacrifice has allowed his fellow countrymen to live free for another 92 years.

Cincinnati Reds

The Reds are playing great and are currently in first place in the NL Central.  Everyone loves a winner especially Ed, Farley and Mark as they travel to the Queen City.  Our PhD committee explores Cincinnati before Ed interviews Paul Bernish from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

We then listen to Joe Morgan as this Hall of Fame Red participated in Major League Baseball’s Roundtable Discussion on Civil Rights.  Ed then interviews Chris Eckes, Chief Curator for the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum about Big Red Machine great, Pete Rose.  Ed, Farley and Mark then conclude the podcast and get ready for our second trip to Chicago.  This time the White Sox will be the center of our attention.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:20 — 20.4MB) | Embed

Podcast (enhanced-podcast): Play in new window | Download (21.1MB) | Embed

Slave Pen

Next to Great American Ballpark is the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.  An inspiring museum that every great American needs to visit.  One of the most moving exhibits is located on the second floor – the Slave Pen.

The Slave Pen was built in the 1830′s and found on a farm in Mason, Kentucky.  This slave pen was used by Captain John W. Anderson to house slaves as they were being transported to the South.

This Slave Pen was dismantled over a two year period and shipped to the National Underground Freedom Center nearly 60 miles away.  It was then put back together and serves as a powerful reminder of the evils of slavery.  Paul Bernish from the National Underground Freedom Center will be interviewed during our podcast featuring the Cincinnati Reds.  This powerful interview will be released on Friday, May 28, 2010.

Pete Rose

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Pete Rose is the all time leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at bats (14,053) and outs (10,328).  In August 1989, Rose agreed to permanent ineligibility from baseball due to allegations that he gambled on baseball.

Great American Ballpark pays a quiet tribute to Rose each night.  Past the center field fence lies two smoke stacks.  Each smoke stack has seven baseball bats which total fourteen, Rose’s number.

Pete Rose on Donahue – September 12, 1985

Pete Rose as Aqua Velva Man

October 8, 1973 – Baseball Fight

The Most Beloved Red

This week is Red’s week with our podcast featuring the Cincinnati Reds being released on Friday, May 28th.  From a national perspective, who can forget the members of the Big Red Machine or that great Red’s team that led from start to finish and won the 1990 World Series?

The most beloved Red played with neither of these great teams.  His name is Joe Nuxhall.  Visit Cincinnati and drop his name and you’ll quickly learn why Nuxhall is the most beloved Red.  Nuxhall first pitched for the Reds on June 6, 1944 at the age of 15.  He pitched 16 years in the Majors and won 135 games.

After retiring from the Reds, Nuxhall became a broadcaster for the Reds from 1967 to 2004.  Nuxhall died in 2007 after a long bought with cancer.  On your next visit to Great American Ballpark, visit the gate behind home plate and see the various statues.  This pitcher is Nuxhall, the most beloved Red.

Joe Nuxhall

Detroit Tigers

Welcome to the Motor City!  Ed, Farley and Mark explore Motown.  Ed then interviews Norm Coleman who puts on a one man play about Tiger great, Ty Cobb.  Ed then interviews Tom Varitek, Senior Program Manager (and cousin to Red Sox catcher, Jason Varitek) with The Henry Ford Museum.  The Wise Guys battle it out over baseball trivia at Comerica Park.  Ed, Farley and Mark then pay tribute to Ernie Harwell and Sparky Anderson before they pack up and head down I-75 to the Queen City of Cincinnati!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:49 — 19.7MB) | Embed

Podcast (enhanced-podcast): Play in new window | Download (20.4MB) | Embed

Detroit Rock City

Have you seen the 1998 cult film Detroit Rock City?  The movie starts in 1978 in Cleveland, Ohio with 4 teenage boys who love Kiss.  They find out that Kiss is playing at Cobo Hall in Detroit and the rest is history.  Enjoy the video.

Detroit Rock City by Kiss

Detroit – The Octopus Tradition

During the taping of our Detroit Tigers podcast, our podcast crew was stumped.  Why do Detroit Red Wings fans throw octopi onto the ice?  Part of getting a PhD in life is knowing what you don’t know.  Watch the video below and learn.   Go Tigers (and Red Wings)!

Norm Coleman as Ty Cobb

The Georgia Peach

This week is Tigers‘ week and who can talk about the Motor City without honoring their greatest ballplayer, Ty Cobb.  Cobb played for the Tigers for 22 seasons with the last 6 as their player-manager.  A patriot, Cobb left during the 1918 season to fight in The Great War (Word War I).

In 1936, Cobb received the most votes of any player on the inaugural ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Cobb received 222 out of a possible 226 votes.  Cobb set 90 Major League records during his career including the highest career batting average (.366).  Nicknamed the Georgia Peach, Cobb played the game hard and aggressive.  The Detroit Free Press summed up Cobb’s style as “daring to the point of dementia.”

Norm Coleman of Half Moon Bay, California considers Cobb the greatest ballplayer of all time.  Each week Coleman honors the Georgia Peach with his one man play.  Norm will be interviewed on our Detroit Tigers podcast which will be released on May 21, 2010.  Enjoy the video from the first act of Norm’s tribute to Ty Cobb.

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